ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 287

INTERNATION
SCHOOL
OF
SELF STUDY IS THE
SUPREME AUSTERITY
STUDIES
Sāmāyika is like meditation on the self but without concentrating on a specific object or being one with the self (samadhi). Here the person is well aware of his existence but focuses all his attention on mantras, recitations and contemplating on the attributes of pure self, reviews and confessions and their resolutions. Thus it is an excellent way of contemplating and meditating to learn and then to imbibe the good ethical-spiritual values in our day-to-day life and make progress in our path o spiritual purification. In our day-to-day life also, it assists the practitioner in developing a balanced mind and decide action accordingly.
7.0 Comparison with Other Religious Traditions of India
Sāmāyika can be partially compared with Patanjali's eightfold yoga, Buddhists yoga and Vedic yoga. A brief comparison follows.
7.1 Patanjali Yoga
Patanjali has defined his Yoga Sadhana to consist of eight steps or limbs namely Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyāhāra, Dharaṇā, Dhyana and Samadhi. Yama and Niyama help the practitioner to control / eliminate feelings of attachments and aversions and enhance his social status. Asana helps enhance physical strength and tolerance so that he can develop detachment towards his body. Prāṇāyāma and Pratyahāra develop control over his breath and other sense organs. After these five stages, the next three stages are for meditating and enhancing its intensity so that the last stage i.e. Samadhi enables the practitioner to enjoy the soul and be one with it. From the discussions of Samayika, we see that it compares with the first five limbs of Patanjala Yoga as the practitioner moves from Avasyaka to 2nd Pratima and finally as 2nd Sikṣāvrata. Of course the situation for monks is different as they are normally in the last three stages of Patanjala Yoga has defined his Yoga Sādhanā.
7.2 Buddhist Yoga
The limb Visuddhi Marga of Buddhists emphasize the word sama with each limb and the last limb i.e. Samadhi is not possible unless the practitioner develops equanimity and eliminates the feelings of attachment and aversion. The word sama is used in the same sense as in Jain texts (equanimity). Various canonical texts of Buddhists like Samyukta Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya etc. talk of equanimity and specify as the path of Buddhist monks. We thus find the use of Sama and equanimity at different places in Buddhist literature but no specific mention of Sämäyika.
Page 274 of 385
STUDY NOTES version 5.0